Burundian refugees living in the Lusenda and Mulongwe camps in the Fizi territory in the South Kivu province in eastern DR Congo are facing a glaring lack of fuel. The UNHCR has not supplied them with fuel for two years. This exposes women and girls in particular to rape. They are forced to go and collect firewood in local forests and bushes.

INFO SOS Médias Burundi

The majority of women and girls who spoke to SOS Médias Burundi say that they are exposed to rape when they go and collect firewood in the forests and bushes of the region. They speak of an unavoidable situation.

P. Minani, 45 years old, says she has no choice but to travel a long distance to find firewood in Kalongo and Katalukulu. She is based in the Mulongwe camp.

« We have a very serious problem. When we go to the forest, gunmen rape us or beat us. But since we have to find firewood for cooking, we are forced to go back despite the danger that awaits us, » laments the forty-year-old.

Niyonkuru was settled in Mulongwe with his family two months ago. He had just spent several months in the Kavimvira transit center in the Uvira territory, not far from the border with Burundi. He says that the lack of fuel « exposes women here to repeated rapes. »

Some families choose to send their children to the forest instead of women. This is the case of Niyonzima who often misses classes for this reason.

Customary chiefs in Fizi blame Burundian refugees for « having participated a lot in deforestation in our country ».

The UNHCR explains the situation by the lack of funding.

The DRC, Democratic Republic of Congo, is home to more than 41 thousand Burundian refugees, mostly settled in the two camps of Mulongwe and Lusenda.

Our photo : Burundian refugees prepare food in the Mulongwe camp where occupants lack firewood (SOS Médias Burundi)